THE FARMWORLD CROP CIRCLE

On Monday 10th August 2000, UPIA investigator Dave Sadler received a telephone call from the editor of the Welsh edition of the Daily Post, a North West regional newspaper, who reported that evidence of a crop circle formation had been discovered, and MAPIT's assistance was required to deal with the case. The crop circle had been found in a wheat field adjoining the quite well known tourist attraction, Farmworld, a children's farm just off the A5152, in Rhoscllanerchrugog near Wrexham in North Wales.

On the evening of Saturday 8th August 2000, the field was left in a good condition, after being checked to see if harvesting could commence in the coming weeks, but late on Sunday afternoon, the farm owner noticed a huge expanse of crop had been completely flattened.

During the day following the newspapers call, attempts were made to contact the newspapers photographer, who initially met with the landowner, and the Farmworld proprietor himself. We were able to contact them both, the photographer was very helpful, giving us as much information as he himself had found. We then arranged to visit Farmworld that evening at 1900hrs to meet with the farm owner, Mr Smith (names have been changed).

At 1900hrs three UPIA investigators arrived at Farmworld, MAPIT founder Stephen Mera, Investigator Karen Day and myself, ( Dave Sadler). On our arrival we were greeted by Mr Smith's son, we asked him some initial questions, but Mr Smith jr became quite flustered and made his excuses before leaving in his car, this we felt was extremely suspicious. Mr Smith soon appeared to greet the team, we were escorted into the field where the formation was situated. Numerous questions were asked, to which Mr Smith replied both completely and what seemed truthfully.

A visual appraisal was made of the field and diagrams and photographs of the circle were taken. The design of the circle was a highly complex, twin circle, made up of 8 circular bands each larger than the previous, with two central starting points quite apparent. These points were 19 feet apart, and the circles ran symmetrically outwards, crossing with the circles of the second set.

During the appraisal Mr Smith became visibly upset, after all over a quarter of an acre of crop had been destroyed, he related to the team details of his alleged bodily lightness on entering the formation, and his heaviness upon leaving, he believed this to be in some way connected to the circles forming. He also claimed that when finding the circles, an advertising balloon over the field began to move very erratically, as did the tail end of a helicopter flying nearby.

Testing soon began, to prove that the Crop circles were either a hoax, or caused by an unknown means.

The total diameter of the formation was 218 feet.
The circumference -112 metres -
Air and soil temperatures were all consistent with the rest of the environment - normal -
Electrical conductivity inside and outside formation - no change, normal levels -
Magnetic field fluctuations - negative -

Whilst checking the magnetic field, we noticed that a local colliery tower was in a position directly north, we turned to the south and an electricity pylon was situated right on the compasses southern point. At the Northeast outside edge of the circumference, we found indications of a previously started design, this satellite we believe to be the original starting point for the whole formation.

The crop itself was then examined, the crops nodes were all normal, having not been subjected to intense heat, they had not exploded, the wheat stalks were snapped in 75% of the formation, this indicated that the crop had been forcibly pressed down. Samples of the wheat and soil, were taken for analysis, again all test results remained normal. Analysis documentation is in MAPIT's possession.

We spoke to Mr Smith for a while longer, during our visit holes had begun to appear in his story, certain aspects changed and details became mixed.

Over the following 24hrs events took a twist, Mr Stephen Mera made numerous phone calls and research requests, and came up with two names, Mr John Lundberg and Mr Will Russell were identified as the culprits, of this elaborate hoax.

We now believe that the creation was part of a channel 4 documentary regarding the crop circle phenomena, producers for the programme paid Lundberg and Russell, a handsome amount for their part in the forming of the design. We also believe that owner Smith and his son received payment for the use of the Farmworld property, and took pleasure in reporting the incident to the press, to give the attraction some free publicity.

Lundberg and Russell also took many photographs of the circle and have now a copyright for their design.

This case has been closed and our conclusion is that the Rhoscllanercrugog crop circle formation was indeed a hoax.

This case was discussed at the Wrexham Science Festival in 2003 and appeared in the MAPIT Phenomena magazine in the same year.